Don't Forget About Us

During my walk through our church lobby several weeks ago I wandered into the Oasis room. This is where the senior citizens of our church meet before every service for food and fellowship. I was immediately greeted with surprised eyes and handshakes and without exception I was warmly embraced and made to feel at home. It’s difficult to admit but I’m closer in age to them than are anyone else on my worship team. But the gulf between them and me was apparent in several of my conversations in Oasis that day.

We are a next generation church, especially where worship is concerned. We believe in getting as many young people involved in planning and pulling off our services as possible. They bring an energy and excitement that’s hard to match. I thank God that we have a steady stream of talented teens that can’t wait to be involved in COTM worship. And the best news is that the older contingent of our church loves it! They understand that we must continue to raise up the next generation of leaders to take our church forward.

But as I sat down with one 65 year old gentlemen, he echoed what I heard over and over in Oasis that day: “Don’t forget about us. We love what you’re doing and thank God for it. But we still love the old songs.” He said he’d been a member of our church since 1988, supported the church financially and prayed daily for our pastor and his team. I thought to myself, “We wouldn’t be here doing what we’re doing without the faithfulness of this man and so many of the people in this room.”

Since that day I’ve visited Oasis at least once a week and have encouraged my team to pay these beautiful people a visit as well. It reminds us that we have a wide range of ages represented here at COTM and that we must honor (not to be confused with “catering to”) those whose faithfulness has paved the way for where we are now. And I have promised them that we will remember that they are in our services; that we will sing a hymn for them every now and then; that we appreciate who they are and what they’ve done.

What are doing to reach every age group in your church in worship? Would love to hear your thoughts…

Andy came to Church on the Move in 2005, having been in the music industry for over 25 years. He's dedicated to raising up the next generation of worship leaders, and even though he spent many years with the group 4him, he says he's "having more fun now than I ever did on the road."